At Scouting events kids look at me and say "Wow, you've really done a lot". My answer is always "Me, nahhh. You should meet Burt, he's done it all"...
I had a leader that had my deepest respect. He'd ridden across the nation a couple times with his wife, and ridden in many other places around the world. Rides with scary names like "Furnace Creek 508" were his thing. Yeah, 508 miles. Plus 35,000 feet of ascent. Solo, through Death Valley. Burt was the personalization for me of "Faster, further, higher". The stories about any of his rides make me feel like I'm still using training wheels.
This friend, this leader, this fearless hero of mine that was bigger than life was killed in the last year. On a Sunday we'd discussed a route we both liked , and the next day on a high-speed downhill section a Trash truck ended his life. Since then I have been quietly removing the outer chainrings from all my bikes, I don't need to fly downhill any more. As I sat among the hundreds of people at his funeral, it just didn't seem that important any more.
The Memorial Ride is not just about Burt, it's about all the cyclists that have died on the roads. This year it is on May 16 at 7pm. There are 170 locations nationwide, and a few around the world. ALL of the locations will be doing a 10 to 12 mile low speed ride, in silence and single file, to mark the passing of those who loved the sport as we do. There is no cost to the participants. It's a memorial and a quiet protest. This event will have media coverage all over the world in some degree, and it will help to remind everyone to share the road. There's twelve locations in California, five in Arizona and three in Nevada. You could set one up if your motivation is at that level.
I'll be at one. I'll be a little distracted in my memories, but I'll be there. You should do this, standing up for something like this always matters. I'd appreciate knowing if you are, please post a comment.
Links-
Irvine, http://www.sellin.com/silence/
Nationwide, http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php
Home site, http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Broken Man Benefit Report
The Benefit went very well. The volume of people attending was good, and the industry presence was strong. We may have surprised many people by showing up with almost $1500 worth of bikes as donations. Diamondback threw down a ’07 Response Sport, Marin a ’06 Bobcat Trail and Sport Chalet covered a ’06 Iron Horse Warrior SC Dual Suspension!
Many of the attendees showed up in the appropriate St Patrick’s day theme, as you can tell by Tony’s appearance. (That's not his beard, it's attached to the edge of his brace.) He is doing OK, he can walk and do most things. He had complained at the event of some tingling in his fingers, which came and went so he is definitely NOT fully recovered. He walked around and talked with everyone, but in the afternoon the heat took it’s toll and he had to go. We all were tired after today!
A total of $3,500 was raised through this event. Our vendors were credited during the raffle, and the winners were all very happy. The winners of the Iron Horse and the Marin bikes were rolling around looking at each other, and a after a little discussion they traded bikes! (Warrior SC for a Bobcat Trail) After everything else, it was very cool to see cooperation like that among good people. BTW- green beer did not affect the deal!
Another write up- http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-talk/5133-broken-man-ride-you-should-have-been-there.html
Ride Report -
When you get bike people together a ride is sure to get started. This one was planned ahead of time, and everyone was familiar with it. Well, everyone but us. We formed a small Sport Chalet group and stuck together. The ride covered about eight miles with about 1,400 ft of climbing. (See http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1 for details) Pretty much you climbed for five miles, fell down a mine shaft for a mile, and then turned right and coasted back to the start. The ride started at 11am, and the day got HOT out on the trail. Fast people do it in under an hour, we took longer than that. And longer than that, and a little longer. It would have helped to not turn LEFT at the road at the end, and add another few miles and more climbing. No one got seriously hurt, new people got a lot of experience and we all finished as friends. Very tired friends.
A total of $3,500 was raised through this event. Our vendors were credited during the raffle, and the winners were all very happy. The winners of the Iron Horse and the Marin bikes were rolling around looking at each other, and a after a little discussion they traded bikes! (Warrior SC for a Bobcat Trail) After everything else, it was very cool to see cooperation like that among good people. BTW- green beer did not affect the deal!
Another write up- http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-talk/5133-broken-man-ride-you-should-have-been-there.html
Ride Report -
When you get bike people together a ride is sure to get started. This one was planned ahead of time, and everyone was familiar with it. Well, everyone but us. We formed a small Sport Chalet group and stuck together. The ride covered about eight miles with about 1,400 ft of climbing. (See http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1 for details) Pretty much you climbed for five miles, fell down a mine shaft for a mile, and then turned right and coasted back to the start. The ride started at 11am, and the day got HOT out on the trail. Fast people do it in under an hour, we took longer than that. And longer than that, and a little longer. It would have helped to not turn LEFT at the road at the end, and add another few miles and more climbing. No one got seriously hurt, new people got a lot of experience and we all finished as friends. Very tired friends.
Additional Pics- 1. Going up the pavement as a group, yes it is this steep!
2. Me at the Gate with Wayne looking grim behind me. The non-Sport Chalet riders jetted away from this point.
3. Mike Dartt very happy. He was the champion today, riding in the back and never letting the slow ones go alone. That takes "inner strength", and he did it well.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Broken Man Benefit and Demo Day
I've brought this back to the top. I'm hearing that 15 to 20 Sport Chalet people will be there. The meeting place has been moved to Cook's Corner, and the post-event ride will start from there as well. If you haven't visited store 38 in Foothill Ranch, you're in the neighborhood. Stop by and check 'em out.
UPDATE: see http://www.thebrokenmanride.com/ There is a link to donate via Paypal on the right side.
The absolute last thing I want to do on this site is promote other bike shops, but the special circumstances of this case make it an exception.
From www.SoCalTrailRiders.Org:
The weekend before last, Tony Gardikas (aka Tony G) was riding in Aliso Viejo, CA. While riding he lost control of his bike and crashed. He landed on his head and broke his helmet in three places, and his NECK in three places as well (C2, C6 and C7). The doctors said that his injury is consistent with the one Christopher Reeves suffered.
Tony also severely bruised his Carotid Artery and his Dr. was concerned about the chance of a stroke. He is not going to have to wear a halo collar, but is in a very rigid (and reportedly uncomfortable) plastic neck brace. As we speak, Tony is not going to suffer from any kind of paralysis nor is he in any further danger of a stroke...he is going to ride again; not soon, but he will ride again.
The Path Bike Shop in Tustin, CA and The Bike Company in Lake Forest, CA are going to sponsor and organize a benefit on behalf of Tony as he has no health/medical insurance. We are going to hold a demo day and ride on March 17 in Aliso Woods in Orange County, CA. Details to follow, but we will also hold a raffle (the proceeds of which will go to Tony G). The raffle will be for some pretty high-end stuff as many of our vendors know Tony G and want to help and are kicking in some really cool stuff. Stay tuned to www.thepathbikeshop.com and www.bikeco.com for more info as we plan the event.
Tony also worked part-time at one of our stores, and is a "bro" to many of the employees he has helped. We all know the risks of the sport we love, but sometimes the price can be too much for one person to bear. If you can possibly make it down to this event, I would suggest it.
UPDATE: see http://www.thebrokenmanride.com/ There is a link to donate via Paypal on the right side.
The absolute last thing I want to do on this site is promote other bike shops, but the special circumstances of this case make it an exception.
From www.SoCalTrailRiders.Org:
The weekend before last, Tony Gardikas (aka Tony G) was riding in Aliso Viejo, CA. While riding he lost control of his bike and crashed. He landed on his head and broke his helmet in three places, and his NECK in three places as well (C2, C6 and C7). The doctors said that his injury is consistent with the one Christopher Reeves suffered.
Tony also severely bruised his Carotid Artery and his Dr. was concerned about the chance of a stroke. He is not going to have to wear a halo collar, but is in a very rigid (and reportedly uncomfortable) plastic neck brace. As we speak, Tony is not going to suffer from any kind of paralysis nor is he in any further danger of a stroke...he is going to ride again; not soon, but he will ride again.
The Path Bike Shop in Tustin, CA and The Bike Company in Lake Forest, CA are going to sponsor and organize a benefit on behalf of Tony as he has no health/medical insurance. We are going to hold a demo day and ride on March 17 in Aliso Woods in Orange County, CA. Details to follow, but we will also hold a raffle (the proceeds of which will go to Tony G). The raffle will be for some pretty high-end stuff as many of our vendors know Tony G and want to help and are kicking in some really cool stuff. Stay tuned to www.thepathbikeshop.com and www.bikeco.com for more info as we plan the event.
Tony also worked part-time at one of our stores, and is a "bro" to many of the employees he has helped. We all know the risks of the sport we love, but sometimes the price can be too much for one person to bear. If you can possibly make it down to this event, I would suggest it.
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